Tips for successfully converting spouse to B permit with ability to work

So August will be our 20th month in Switzerland, and I will be starting the permit renewal process soon as my permit expires in November. I am currently on an L permit, as most non-EUs get these days for the first two cycles, and don't expect an issue with getting transferred to a B permit as my contract is indefinite and i have a unique skill set not found in the EU.

What I am wondering is if anyone has any tips on what to put on the application that might help us get the B permit that gives my husband the right to work on the dependent B permit?

If we get the restricted B permit, then we are pretty much done here as two years of only one pay cheque has already depleted any savings account we had when we got here without even doing any travelling and being very boring stay at home type people.

Re: Tips for successfully converting spouse to B permit with ability to work

Actually there are two different ones according to the migration office, one that allows you to work anywhere, and one that simply gives you the ability to have the other perks of B permits (ie credit). Even my permit will either be tied to my employer (which is likely what I will receive) or open to change jobs. But for the spouse, there are no guarantees, so I am just wondering if anyone out there who has gone through the process had any advice?

i know this might have been asked but i kept searching and could not find an answer.

I have a professional B permit that allows me to work with my company here in CH.

(per my HR dept) My wife got a B permit, but she can not work in Switzerland unless another company applies for a working B Permit (like my one). I assume hers is strictly residential.

I thought that it would be the same B permit that I have (meaning she can get a job), but she cant unless she applies to a company that is willing to file for a working B permit for her.

My HR Dept tells me the above, I can work, but my wife will need an employer to apply/sponsor her working B permit.

Does this sound right?

My experience was, I was firstly having B Permit dependent on my husband. When I found the job, my employer started the working permit process, they submitted the necessary documents to Bern. Then Bern gave the quota to allow me working in CH. But the canton said they would not give me the separate one, because it will take one quota from them. They still let me dependent on my husband, but in my B permit, it mentioned my employer name. So it is not black or white. Hope it helps.

My experience was, I was firstly having B Permit dependent on my husband. When I found the job, my employer started the working permit process, they submitted the necessary documents to Bern. Then Bern gave the quota to allow me working in CH. But the canton said they would not give me the separate one, because it will take one quota from them. They still let me dependent on my husband, but in my B permit, it mentioned my employer name. So it is not black or white. Hope it helps.

Re: Tips for successfully converting spouse to B permit with ability to work

My employer managed to get me a work permission on a dependent 'L' permit. They did have to go through hoops, but I suspect it was marginally easier because I was already in the country.

I changed employers officially on the exact day that my permit swapped over from L to B. It wasn't a problem at all - my new employer did the necessary paperwork, and it was just an administrative checking process, not requiring any additional approval procedure.

The simplest way to handle it is for your wife to find an employer, and the employer makes enquiries to check the permit status. Sure, it's much easier once you have the B, but as I said, I was able to find an employer who had advertised the position for over 12 months, and had done all the lead-up work, and I had enough (and specific) qualifications to fit the criteria, so the application was successful...

Re: Tips for successfully converting spouse to B permit with ability to work

Sorry to interrupt~ I cannot find any answers anywhere.

So does that means, my wife, with dependent of my B permit, which she has B permit too, is allow to work straightaway and no need to wait for any approval or official approval letter to work after submitted every paperwork to the authority? She has been waiting for the ''approval letter'' to start working since May.

Has her employer put in an application for permission to work ? Was the application put in before or after the dependent B permit was approved ?

It should be very straightforward. I have no idea what they are waiting for ? What does the employer say ?

The application handed in weeks after she got the dependent B permit. The employer said they called and it is okay to start working. But the gemeinde said don't start working as my wife still need to wait for an official approval letter. We are very confused now.

Re: Tips for successfully converting spouse to B permit with ability to work

I would think that the employer is correct. The permission comes from AWA (the work authority) and not the gemeinde. You can ask them if they have permission from AWA. We've done this for several staff now, and it has taken between 4-6 weeks, and then once they confirmed it via email or phone, it was only a couple of days for the paper to arrive.

I would think that the employer is correct. The permission comes from AWA (the work authority) and not the gemeinde. You can ask them if they have permission from AWA. We've done this for several staff now, and it has taken between 4-6 weeks, and then once they confirmed it via email or phone, it was only a couple of days for the paper to arrive.

Re: Tips for successfully converting spouse to B permit with ability to work

The employer will be in far more trouble for employing you without the proper paperwork, than you would be....so I would say that as long as you are confident that it's a legitimate job (social security insurance, pension payments, proper salary) then go for it!